Cage for ball-bearings.



, No. 796,648- I PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

v G. A. HIRTH.

GAGE FOR BALL BEARINGS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20,1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL ALBERT HIRTH, OF CANNSTATT, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO ERNST GUSTAVHOFFMANN, OF DREISKAU, NEAR LEIPSIC, GERMANY.

CAGE FOR BALL-BEARINGS.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed July 20, 1904. Serial No. 217,313-

To a whoa n it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL ALBERT HIRTH, engineer, a subject of the GermanEmperor, and a resident of Pragstrasse, Cannstatt, in the Empire ofGermany, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cages forBall-Bearings, of which the following is an exact, full, and cleardescription.

This invention relates to an improved construction of cages for holdingthe balls in twopoint ball-bearings; and its object is to minimize thefriction insuch ball-bearings.

1n the cages hitherto constructed it has been found out that thefriction was frequently increased by the fact that the walls of the cagecome in contact with and rub against the peripheral zones of the ballswhere the greatest circumferential velocity takes place. This drawbackis obviated by the hereinafter-described construction of the cage.Furthermore, in the construction according to the invention provisionhas been made whereby the noisy action of the ball-bearing is obviated,

this action being generally caused by thefact that the balls changetheir position owing to vibrations and shocks, thus striking irregularlyagainst each other or against the sides of the cage.

Reverting to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are elevationsof an ordinary two-point ball-bearing provided with the improved cage intwo forms of constructions, the cone and cup portions being shown insection. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a two-point ballbearing, showing amodified construction of the cage as compared with Fig. 2 and having itscup portion shaped with a cylindrical interior. Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of Fig. 3. Fig.

5 shows in side elevation, on an enlarged scale, a portion of thecage-frame according to Figs. 3 and 4 for illustrating the arrangementof the lateral spring-lugs. Fig. 6 is a plan of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows athrust-bearing constructed with a cage of the improved type. Fig. 8 is aplan of the uncovered thrust-bearing according to Fig. 7, the lugs ofthe cage beingshown in section. Fig. 9 shows a modified form of the cagefor journal-bearings similar to Fig. 1, comprising a pair of platesprovided with interlocking arms. Fig. 10 is a section, on an enlargedscale, on the line 00 w of Fig. 9.

According to my invention I provide cages which are capable of keepingthe balls between spring-supported walls.

The balls are arplates.

ranged so as to touch these walls only with their pole-surfaces-z'. a,where there is the leastfriction. In order that the balls may not changetheir positions, they are positively held by the contacting parts of thecage, which are suitably recessed for partly engaging the polesurfacesof the balls. It is not necessary to curve the recesses concentricallyto the surface of the ball; but instead of a spherical contact a linearcontact may be employed. According to this general arrangement the cage,with its lateral walls, prevents the balls from getting out of theirproper positions, while the pole ends practically serve as pivots forthe balls in their rolling movements. Nevertheless they do notmaterially interfere with the free rotation of the balls, which arecapableof adjustment in any direction.

In Fig. 1 the balls (0 are arranged between the inner or cone portion 0and the outer cup portion n, each portion being provided with a grooveforming the race for the balls. The cone portion is fixed to the shaftw. The cage-frame in this case is formed of two annular plates 6 6,which hold and guide the balls interposed between them and are subjectedto spring-pressure for the purpose of gripping the balls. Bolts 0 mayserve for loosely connecting the annular plates 6 6, provision beingmade for permitting a sliding movement of the annular plates in thedirection of the bolts 0. The spring action by which the annular plates6 b are drawn together is exerted by suitable springsfor instance, bycoiled springs e, mounted on the bolts 0 and having their ends attachedto the The tension of the springs must only be just sufficient for alight grip of the balls, so that the latter are not impeded in theirfree movements and can revolve no matter what diameter may form the axisof revolution. It is essential that the plates Z) 6, where they contactwith the pole-surfaces of the balls, are recessed or provided withshallow cavities, so as to fit more or less snugly onto the sphericalsurface. The said coiled springs 6 may be replaced by suitably-arrangedflat springs tending to lightly press the plates 6 6 together.

In Figs. 2 and 3 modified constructions of the cage are illustrated,according to which the cage-frame is formed with elastic lugs grippingthe balls and serving as springs. The said lugs are lettered lb andextend from the cage-frame f proper, which is formed in edges of theapertures.

the construction according to Fig. 2 by an inner ring and in the case ofFig. 3 by an outer ring. This ring or cage framef(shown in sideelevation in Fig. 4:) is provided with apertures at f, through which theballs protrude without coming in contact with the The cage-framef,withthe lugs 7b, can be made from a hoop or collar, and the lugs formedthereon are bent at right angles, so as to be located opposite eachother. This construction is shown in Fig. 4 and in detail in Figs. 5 and6. It can be seen from the latter figures that the polesurface of theballs are seated in small cavities on the inner faces of the lugs, andthus form pivots for the balls.

A similar construction of the cage applies to the arrangement of athrust-bearing shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In this case the balls aredisposed in a horizontal row between an upper thrust-ring p and a lowerabutment g. The balls are held in a cage formed by an annular frame if,having upright springlugs /t. The lugsare disposed in pairs radially andface each other, cavities being provided for receivingthe balls. Thecage of this type may be formed of sheet metal, the blank comprising thelugs to be bent at right angles.

In some cases the cage of the improved type is formed of two parts.Eachof these parts is provided with arms which interlock each otherwhere the ends are of angular form for the gripping engagement. lockingarrangement is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 as applied to a cage for atwo-point journal bearing. In this instance each side plate 6 hasinwardly-projecting arms 717, which interlock in the Way as shown inFig. 10. It is obvious that the plates of this cage after inserting theballs can be brought together by lateral pressure until the interlockingarms or tongues Z: slip into engagement. The

spring action produced by suitably bending This interthe arms k issufficient to afford a yielding support of the plates against thepole-surfaces of the balls.

The improved cage herein described permits a secure holding and guidingof the balls, while avoiding any considerable friction and@ notinterfering with the free movement of the balls.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a two-point ballbearing, a cage-frame formed oftwo parts, springs connecting these parts, cavities provided on thelatter and adapted to take hold of the balls at their axes of rotationsubstantially as described.

2. In a ball-bearing, a cage composed of a ring-like holding-frame andmeans for yi eldingly gripping the balls.

3. In a ball-bearing, a cage composed of a ring-like holding-frame andmeans for yieldingly guiding the balls.

4. In a ball-bearing, a cage composed of a ring-like holding-frame andmeans for yieldingly gripping and guiding the balls.

5. In a two-point ball-bearing, a cage composed of a ring-likeholding-frame and means for yieldingly gripping the balls at their axesof rotation respectively.

6. In a two point ball-bearing, a cage composed of a ring-likeholding-frame and means for yieldingly gripping the balls at their axesof rotation respectively, the balls being seated in cavities in saidframe.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

CARL ALBERT HIRTH.

Witnesses:

, ERNST ENTENMAN,

WM. HAHN.

